Happy Friday Friends! Prairie Nurse is in full swing at the Blyth Festival. Have you been? Not yet? Well, get out your GPS and get ready for your road trip. Here's my top five tips - which has mostly to do with food:

1] Every good road trip needs some good listening. Download the latest The Spoke podcast by Outside the March. Theme song by Huron County's own Sam Sholdice, sound designer for two shows at Blyth this year - Beyond the Farm Show and Falling: A Wake. [And who, by the way, was in the very first Blyth Young Company I ever directed.]

2] Take the scenic route. There are a few ways into Blyth. I love this route that goes through beautiful Mennonite farm country. Skip the chaos of St. Jacob's. Instead, pick up some picnic-y foods at the road side stands or Stemmler Meats and Cheese in Heidelburg.

3] There's eating on the road, and then there's eating at your destination. When you get to Blyth, grab one of the best burgers you'll ever have at The Blyth Inn [aka The Boot]. Or get your greasy-spoon all-day breakfast on at the Corner Cafe [ask for the special grated potato hash browns with extra onions], or if you go on a weekend evening show, book yourself a ticket for one of the scrumptious Country Suppers offered through the festival.

Country Supper at the United Church. Photo by Lana Carillo

4] Arrived early with time to kill before the show? Walk on down to Bainton's Old Mill and score a vintage motorcycle jacket for $25 [seriously, you'll never buy that crappy pleather knock off again]. Then cross the street and check out the gorgeous garden and pottery at the Davara Studio.

5] After the show, get yourself across the street from the theatre and grab a latte and a slice of pie at the Queen's Bakery. Or hop back in your car and take a 30 minute detour up to Goderich and grab a box of the best donuts you'll ever have at Culbert's Bakery.

A box of donut heaven from Culbert's Bakery in Goderich. Photo by Lana Carillo.